Trainers don’t often break into a smile when a rival runs a record but that was the case with the Gold Coast-based Noel Doyle this week. He trains smart filly Aimee who will be one of the favourites for the Ken Russell Memorial at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Aimee… Read More »
Gerald Ryan is one of several Hollindale Stakes trainers hoping the Gold Coast skies stay clear before Saturday. The Gold Coast track has had 32mm of rain in the past seven days but more is predicted for the weekend. Ryan has Angel Of Mercy in the weight-for-age Hollindale and the… Read More »
California Chrome is the early 5-2 favourite for the Kentucky Derby after drawing barrier five for the famous race. He is trained by 77-year-old Art Sherman who could become the oldest trainer to win the Derby, surpassing Charlie Whittingham who was 76 when Sunday Silence won in 1989. California Chrome… Read More »
Tac De Boistron has staked a major claim for the Gold Cup with a five length win in the Group Three Sagaro Stakes at Ascot. Owned by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, Tac De Boistron was sent back to Europe last year after failing on firm tracks in the 2012 Geelong and… Read More »
Richard Jolly is convinced a better barrier draw will help Kushadasi’s South Australian Derby chances as the trainer bids to go one better than last year. The Jolly-trained Hioctdane was runner-up in the Derby 12 months ago after jumping from the outside barrier and the trainer will saddle up two… Read More »
Jumps jockey Paul Gallagher received a 28-day ban from riding after failing a breath test at Warrnambool on Wednesday. Stewards breathalysed all 36 jockeys riding at Warrnambool with Gallagher the only one to submit to an elevated blood alcohol reading. Gallagher initially blew .042, more than double the .02 limit,… Read More »
The Warrnambool straight seemed like it stretched for miles for the connections of Wednesday’s Listed Wangoom Handicap winner Kneeling. The Peter Moody-trained mare shared the speed for most of the race before darting three lengths clear at the 250m but there were no shortage of chasing horses. Linda Meech rode… Read More »
Randwick trainer Les Bridge doesn’t have a big team these days but he unveiled a filly of quality at Canterbury on Wednesday in Shigeru Sendan. The two-year-old upset a plunge on Wantabetheone, a first starter for the Hawkes stable who was backed from $4.60 to start a $2.40 favourite but… Read More »
A setback in his preparation will deny Gold Coast three-year-old Santoya Cat a Queensland Derby start but he earned a chance at some late winter glory at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. Santoya Cat ($7) scored by the smallest of margins when a magnifying glass was used before he was declared… Read More »
John O’Shea has saddled up his final runner as a public trainer and the Darley incumbent’s farewell was a fitting one. Winsomemore led throughout to score a comfortable victory in the Drummond Golf Handicap (1550m) at Canterbury on Wednesday just four days before O’Shea starts his new role as head… Read More »
A team of young, talented horses delivered Sydney autumn carnival success for Hawkes Racing and they will rely on a trio with a similar profile to continue the stable’s momentum at Hawkesbury. The training partnership had a memorable autumn in Sydney, highlighted by Mossfun’s Golden Slipper victory. The stable will… Read More »
Sistine Demon will bypass a Listed race at Caulfield on Saturday to shoot for a bigger win in Adelaide in the Group One Goodwood a week later. Sistine Demon, winner of seven of his past eight starts, was nominated for Saturday’s Listed Thoroughbred Club Cup (1440m) at Caulfield but was… Read More »
After his first city treble, apprentice Jye McNeil gets a chance to chase a breakthrough stakes victory at Caulfield on Saturday. McNeil will again link with two of the three horses he won on last Saturday at Sandown when they back up at Caulfield, including the Robbie Griffiths-trained Horacio in… Read More »
Darren Weir won out in a clash between two irrepressible forces in Australian racing in Wednesday’s Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool. Weir, the runaway leader in the Victorian trainers’ premiership, prepared Gotta Take Care and Maythehorsebemagic while champion Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse continued her foray into the jumps scene with Valediction…. Read More »
A morning spent wading in the shallows at the beach has helped Palmero regroup before his sternest test of his career in the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. A tough 5500-metre course featuring 33 steeples will stand between Palmero becoming the first horse since Frankoo Verymuch to complete the Brierly… Read More »
Star sprinter Buffering worked strongly between races on Wednesday as he heads towards a unique treble during the winter carnival. When nominations closed on Wednesday, Buffering was entered for all three Brisbane Group One sprints, the BTC Cup (1200m) on May 10, the Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 24 and… Read More »
Caloundra trainer Troy Hall vowed not to push two-year-old filly Rosella too hard despite her record-breaking win at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. Sent out favourite, Rosella ($2.30) lived up to her impressive trial two weeks ago when she won the Drumbeats @ Lyndhurst Maiden. She posted 1min11.2secs for the 1200m,… Read More »
The Matthew Dale-trained Unanimously will join a select band of horses if the talented sprinter can make it back-to-back wins in the Wagga Town Plate (1200m). Only three horses – Grafteline (1907-08), Prince Wal (1972-73) and Prince Morgan (1974-75) have made it successive victories. Two others – Burmonga (1963-65) and… Read More »
Akzar improving on last year’s Warrnambool Cup result could be one of the few sure things of the three-day May carnival. Akzar finished 18 lengths from Banca Mo when 13th in 2013 but the gelding has undergone an amazing transformation since joining the Darren Weir stable. Weir became the seven-year-old’s… Read More »
Wicked Strong has a built-in fan base for the Kentucky Derby. The entire city of Boston. The colt named in honor of the victims of last year’s Boston Marathon bombings will be among the favorites for Saturday’s race. He’s got the credentials, having impressively won the Wood Memorial at 9-1… Read More »
